Wednesday June 24, 2015

White Wedding Ban Creates Bookings Black Hole

The recent decision by the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canaries to ban tourist weddings is already having a negative impact on forward bookings, according to local tourist body AETUR. As they seek to ramp up the pressure on the Church in order to rescind a new ruling which outlaws tourist marriages from the start of 2016.

The wedlock-deadlock has already resulted in a 35% reduction in related accommodation bookings next year, according to AETUR. With major hotels reporting 23 to 26 cancellations on average, so diverting a large stream of much needed tourist revenue to other competing destinations.

As a result AETUR is joining forces with local businesses operating within the sector to lobby the island government for a resolution to a situation which they believe could have a serious long term impact on many island based companies and their employees.